Gwen Wynn: A Romance of the Wye
1877
The Wye River winds through the English countryside, and on its waters floats Gwendoline Wynn, a young heiress who refuses to be confined by the expectations of polite society. She is beautiful, independent, and utterly unafraid to speak her mind about romance and the limited choices available to women of her station. When she sets out on the river with her companion Eleanor Lees, she expects nothing more than a pleasant afternoon. What she finds is danger in the form of rough men on the water, and salvation in the form of Captain Vivian Ryecroft, a dashing officer whose intervention sets pulses racing. This chance encounter ignites a romantic tension that will define the narrative. Gwen possesses a spirited nature that delights in her freedom on the river, yet her candid thoughts about love and society reveal a woman yearning for something more. When Captain Ryecroft appears at precisely the right moment, the chemistry is undeniable. Mayne Reid, better known for his adventure novels, brings his flair for dramatic rescues and vivid scenery to this tale of attraction, crafting a romance that combines the tranquil beauty of the Wye Valley with the thrill of unexpected peril.
